With Love, From ETXhttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com
A series of open letters and thoughts with Love, from ETX.
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 17:29:59 +0000 en
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1 http://wordpress.com/https://s0.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngWith Love, From ETXhttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com
Somewhere Betweenhttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/somewhere-between/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/somewhere-between/#respondThu, 02 Mar 2017 18:16:19 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=380It’s been another long stint since my last post…and I’m sorry to anyone who actually reads this. It’s not that I’m bad at commitment, I think I just get too bored too fast with projects that I start and am not the most in love with. I love some of my posts on here, don’t love my concept. The issue is more than likely…me. I don’t really know what I want in life, I just know that I want to be happy and healthy. Usually, as Spring Break rolls around (yes, I still get Spring Break because I work for a school) I start a new project and feel inspired. So, there’s that to hope for.

What are some of your hobbies? Like, what do you feel passionate about doing? Do you just LOVE doing something and feel incomplete without it?

That’s great….but I don’t. I don’t have anything that really sets me apart or gives me an “identity”. I don’t have any titles like “That Yoga Girl” or “Great Cook” or anything like that. I am a chameleon who is into a lot of things, but nothing defines me and I don’t define anything either. I’ve struggled with this since I stopped dancing and doing color guard 7 years ago. So, I’ve essentially been this nomad in a desert where I have yet to find an Oasis that is my “Calling”. I’m confident that I have a very distinct personality and therefor I am a person because of it…but the other piece is missing. I have a job, not a career. I exercise, but I’m not specifically associated with one type of exercise or another.

Next question: If you have a niche, how did you find it? How did you just KNOW that was part of what makes you…you?

Let me know in the comments.

With Love, From ETX.

]]>https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/somewhere-between/feed/0larkspurstargazerAnother Year Down, on to the Next Onehttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/another-year-down-on-to-the-next-one/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/another-year-down-on-to-the-next-one/#respondWed, 28 Dec 2016 15:57:13 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=352I believe that the whole country feels like 2016 was quite a mess. We’ve collectively had more downs than ups, not including the result of our presidential election. However, I personally did everything I could to make the most of this year and it honestly was not horrible for me. That being said, there are still improvements to be made in 2017. I’ve also decided that these will not be called “resolutions”, but rather be known as “goals”…because that is what they are. So, without further ado, here are my goals for 2017:

Run a 5k every month this year. Even if it’s one of the virtual races, I would like to run a timed race every month for a year to watch my progress. My ultimate goal is a 30 minute 5k. My “push it” goal is 35 minute 5k, and my general goal is 38 minutes. Along with this goal, I want to complete 250 miles of running in 2017. I made it to over 100 miles in 2016 and I’d like to kick it up a notch.

Get myself down to a healthy weight. I don’t want to obsess over this one or give it too much attention, but I would like to accomplish this for many reasons. The biggest reason is for my overall health, since being overweight is a big factor in my having hypertension. While I think I will probably still deal with high blood pressure the rest of my life (it’s hereditary, actually) I would like to have it well managed by being as healthy and fit as I possibly can be. I want to do what I can to accomplish this and add many more years to my life. Feeling good in my clothes will just be an added bonus.

Learn to drive a manual transmission car. It’s a skill I have never learned and have always wanted to learn how to do. My dream car for waaaay down the line in the future is a M3 BMW and I would love to be able to drive it with ease. Also, it would be good to know how to drive one since this is now what my husband drives every day and it would be nice to be able to take over for him on any road trip we may take it on.

Learn to cook 12 new dishes for a Sunday dinner. This one, I plan on doing with my mother. I would like to learn about cooking a new Sunday dinner recipe, complete with desert, once a month with my mom. So, that’s 12 big meals for the year. I want to learn this, because eventually I will take over as our family’s cooking matriarch when my Mom gets older, so I suppose I should start learning now how to feed more than 2 people.

Make time for some incredible dates with my husband. I’ve seen several of these ideas on Pinterest for pre-planned dates, and I think some of them are great ideas. I would love to go on one really cool/slightly elaborate date every month this year. I’m noticing a trend with the number 12, but it’s a good way for me to make goals. We really need as many good experiences as we can get this coming year and while we are still young.

Read more books. I wanted so badly to be a better reader in 2016…but I failed miserably and literally only completed 3 books this year. I am almost finished with another one, so I might make it to 4 by the end of the year. However, I want to change this in 2017. I would like to read at least 24 books (that’s 2 per month) by the time December 31, 2017 come around. I feel like books will be a way for me to re-expand my mind…and that’s going to be something I desperately need with what’s coming in the next 4 years.

Become more organized. I plan on using tools like planners, calendars and numbers softwares that will help me stay on top of everything. I think I’d also like to do more to organize my items at home and in my office at work. I think this will be yet another way to take stress out of my life. I am determined to cut as much stress out of my life as possible.

I am so determined to get through 2017 and make it one of my best years yet…or at least more survivable than 2016. Do you have any goals for 2017? Share with me in the comments!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

With Love, From ETX.

]]>https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/another-year-down-on-to-the-next-one/feed/0larkspurstargazerHiatus Coffee with Creamhttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/hiatus-coffee-with-cream/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/hiatus-coffee-with-cream/#respondTue, 04 Oct 2016 19:17:25 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=331In case y’all haven’t noticed, I’ve been on quite a hiatus from my site. I really haven’t had a moment to myself since my last post. I’ve also just kind of lost the inspiration, you know? I’m sure everyone who has a blog has gone through this at some point or another, but for me it has a lot to do with having too many thoughts. I haven’t been able to really put thoughts into words, and after about 2 months, I’m going to try my best to do that…with my morning coffee by my side.

First things first, I have gotten back on the horse for running and I’m currently training for the Turkey Trot 5k in November. It really feels great to be able to go outside and run again, despite being completely out of shape; I freaking love it! I’m taking a new approach and attempting to just jog the entire 3.1 miles without walking. That is my goal. I don’t care about my time, really, I just want to be able to jog the whole distance without stopping. After I accomplish this goal, then I will work on improving my time and becoming more competitive. I do enjoy running a great deal, and have found a way to manage my injuries and not to push so hard that I can continue to do it. I am going to hope that this is something that I can do for a very long time.

I have also committed myself to really trying to lose weight and get a lot healthier. I recently took to downloading the MyFitnessPal app on my phone and have been logging my meals daily. It’s very interesting to learn what I’m consuming each day and where I can make some better choices. I will confess here that, on my last weigh in, I’m at 177lbs…on a 5’1″ frame. My goal weight is 125lbs. I want to do this the healthy way…no starving/depriving and no fads. It’s going to probably take a little longer, but it will take long enough for it to become a habit and a lifestyle vs a diet. I want to live for as long as I possibly can and I think being healthier will help me get there. I also want the satisfaction of looking good naked and feeling great in my skin. The challenge to that is trying to feel beautiful as I am now…which is hard when you think that you look like the Stay-puft Marshmallow Man. It’s a work in progress. One of the biggest changes I made is getting off of oral contraceptives (which I have been taking for the past 10+ years) because their affects with my body chemistry had changed. I gained more weight when I switched BC types in MAY than I had in the past 4 years from my college graduation. From 2012 – May 2016, I may have gained MAYBE 20lbs….from May 2016 to now, I gained almost 40!! Now, I’m on a mission to drop some pounds and feel like my old self again. I hope I can accomplish my goal within the next 12 months.

That’s all for now. I will try and document this as much as I can along the way.

With Love, From ETX,

Casey.

]]>https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/hiatus-coffee-with-cream/feed/0larkspurstargazerReset, Re-brand, Refresh…I’m due for a serious Redo!https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/08/22/reset-re-brand-refresh-im-due-for-a-serious-redo/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/08/22/reset-re-brand-refresh-im-due-for-a-serious-redo/#commentsMon, 22 Aug 2016 20:55:00 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=314Hello, everyone. I am going to start by saying that, if there is anyone who has been following me since my Blogging 101 class, thank you. Thank you for reading, following and sticking around. I am struggling to really find my stride with writing, lately, and I hope to eventually find myself in all of this. So, I’ve asked myself a couple of questions about this whole blogging thing:

1.) Should I just hit “Reset” and start all over from scratch? Or….

2.)Should I keep this site and just have an overall re-branding? Or….

3.)Should I refresh my initial plans and just add on a couple of new segments?

I’m in such a dilemma because I am interested in so many things, that I don’t particularly have a “niche” or anything I’m really “known for”. I don’t have a thing. I dabble a little in a lot of things, but I don’t particularly have a specialty and I never really have. So, I want to definitely keep this place organized, but I’m still not going to have just one thing that I talk about. I have some questions I need to answer, but I’ll try to keep posting or at least try to get myself organized with some good content…no matter how scatter-brained it may be. Thank you for your patience, everyone. And if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments section.

]]>https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/08/22/reset-re-brand-refresh-im-due-for-a-serious-redo/feed/1larkspurstargazerChoiceshttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/choices/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/choices/#respondSun, 24 Jul 2016 16:59:47 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=298I’m still working on my class that gives me writing prompts right now and I was able to choose from a few options before writing this and the word “Choice” was one of them….but so was “Regret”. I felt kind of torn between the two subjects, because I’m one of those people who have always wanted to live without any regret. I think it’s all a manner of perspective, though, because I don’t feel like I live with any regret, but I know that I have made many wrong choices in just a short amount of life that I’ve had so far.

I have a list of things in my head that are just choices that I could have done differently like:

I should have taken more time on myself in college and travelled more.

I should have kept up with my exercise so that I wouldn’t have gained so much weight now.

I probably should have majored in something that would make me more money.

The thing is, I don’t regret any of my choices, but I wonder how things would have gone if I’d done something differently. While I can’t change my past, I use those choices to learn and grow from so that I can make more informed decisions now. I don’t hold regret because that isn’t how you learn from life. That’s how you get stuck in a constant, negative cycle that is damn near impossible to break. Maybe I should have taken more time for myself in college, but I had some good experiences with my partner and now I have an understanding husband who does allow me any space I need for myself. I definitely should have kept up with health and fitness while in my earlier 20’s, but I’m now learning how to take care of a body going into it’s 3rd decade…so maybe things are a little different and I’m open for the challenge. As for the last one, I probably could have majored in some sort of engineering or computer science degree, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed my college experience at all. I know I’m going to get disappointed or get a negative outcome on occasion…but as long as I can learn and grow from any mistakes or wrong choices, I think life will go on.

Here’s to hoping everyone is having a fantastic Sunday!

]]>https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/choices/feed/0larkspurstargazerWho am I and Why Do I Write?https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/07/23/who-am-i-and-why-do-i-write/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/07/23/who-am-i-and-why-do-i-write/#respondSat, 23 Jul 2016 03:56:56 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=290So, just a disclaimer, I am doing a couple of different Blogging workshops, so you may see some posts that seem a bit sporadic. I’m determined to get some inspo and keep on writing. At any rate, here’s the post….

Who am I and why do I write? Well, there’s not really a simple answer to this two-part question that’s been posed to me. I guess, we’ll start with the basics. My name is Casey and I’m currently located in Northeast Texas. I’m married, employed and very much a mom….to two spoiled rotten dogs (a Corgi named Ranger and a Boston Terrier named Brady). I graduated from college 4 years ago with a degree in Anthropology and I am wanting to go back for more. I’ve just turned 27, and I’m kind of in an existential crisis in my life where I feel too old to be finding myself and too young to feel this settled in my ways. I’m by no means unhappy, but I am always looking to have a little more adventure in my life…even though I am a complete introvert. I guess the reason I write is to get those ideas out into the world instead of just keeping them locked up in my head. I also like to write about my experiences, like I’m documenting an ethnography of my own life. So, that’s really it for now. I like to write about the places I go and the fun dates I get to go on with my husband and shenanigans I get into with my friends. I also like to post about my Corgi a lot because he is more my dog than the Boston Terrier…her allegiance is more with my husband. I also love to read books and magazines as well as watch a ton of movies. I am also on a bit of a fitness and health journey so that I can hopefully live a long and fulfilling life.

I think thats about it. I’ll be cleaning up posts and rebranding a bit over the weekend.

]]>https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/07/23/who-am-i-and-why-do-i-write/feed/0larkspurstargazerAll in Good Beer: A “Not Your Average Date” at a Local Breweryhttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/all-in-good-beer-a-not-your-average-date-at-a-local-brewery/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/all-in-good-beer-a-not-your-average-date-at-a-local-brewery/#respondThu, 09 Jun 2016 02:13:08 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=257As I try to get better at keeping up with my posts in a timely manner, I am spending a lot of time at work again. It’s our peak season, so there may be some gaps here and there. However, this date was how my husband and I closed out our “Staycation” this year, and it happened at a perfect time.

A couple of weeks ago, Jeremy and I had our first “Staycation” this year, during which we were able to get a lot of rest and finally get to go on some pretty fun dates. I have already posted about our Rock Climbing/book buying adventure in Dallas, but the other great date we were able to go on was in our own town, Tyler, TX. We went to True Vine Brewing Company’s Open Taps event the day after Jeremy’s birthday and it was pretty darn fun! For those who don’t know, True Vine is the first craft brewery in Tyler that sort of popped up, officially, just a couple of years ago. They brew some outstanding beers and have been serving them out of their back yard during their Open Taps events. Open Taps is generally held every last Saturday of the month and it is definitely worth the wait, if you’re already a fan or if you’re dying to try it out. You can actually buy tickets to it in advance via Eventbrite for about $10/person (which gets you a glass and 2 beer tokens to try whatever brew you want). At the door, tickets go up to $15/person and the glasses can’t be guaranteed.

Moving on to what happens when you’re in. Picture it: a gravel yard, covered with huge shade trees, picnic tables and what can be described as a quaint “ice house” to grab your beer from. This small brewery in Northern Tyler plays host to an Open Taps event that attracts hundreds of people from the area. They always have some great music going from local bands and they host booths for a couple of local vendors with stuff to sell. They also invite a food truck to come out and feed their patrons and sop up the delicious beer. While we’re talking about the beer, let me tell you that I try a lot of different craft beers…and these guys are good. You can tell that they know what they are doing and that they have put their blood, sweat, and tears into every batch. I tried their #1 brew called “Mermaids and Unicorns”, which was magical. I also tried one of their beers that was seasonal (I’m struggling to remember the name), that equated to that of a Blue Moon (an orange wedge would have been the only thing I would have added to that one). Jeremy enjoyed a couple of pints of their Sanctamonium (a little hoppy/bitey for my taste, but the other notes in this brew were pretty good). We had also brought my brother and my sister-in-law out with us from Oklahoma and they were just as pleased with their selections. My brother commented on being impressed that a once dry-county like Tyler could have such a good local brewery now. I agree, whole-heartedly. This is definitely an event that I will go to again. The owners of this brewery are amazing people, who love what they do and they love the community that they are in. I sincerely hope they are around for a very long time, indeed.

If you’d like to know a bit more about True Vine Brewing Company, definitely look them up on Facebook! Keep an eye out for Open Taps and other events at their charming brewery, and also at Brookshire’s Fresh for their cans!

I only have one, really great picture to share from Open Taps, and that’s of my husband, the birthday boy, enjoying the brewery tour.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!

With Love, From ETX,

Casey.

]]>https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/all-in-good-beer-a-not-your-average-date-at-a-local-brewery/feed/0larkspurstargazerIMG_1599Not Your Average Dates: Dyno-Rock Climbing Gymhttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/not-your-average-dates-dyno-rock-climbing-gym/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/not-your-average-dates-dyno-rock-climbing-gym/#respondMon, 30 May 2016 18:44:54 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=230Hello again! As promised, I am posting another venue visit under our “Not Your Average Dates” category. This one is from when we visited Dyno-Rock Climbing Gym in Arlington, TX this past week on our “Stay-cation”.

My husband and I have been trying to go out on more active or educational dates. The big one before this, was the Dallas World Aquarium followed by a Dallas Stars game that I posted about previously. This month, so far, we decided to go rock climbing together for the first time. It’s something I had always wanted to try, as a way to build strength, try something different for once and to help get over my fear of heights. We also wanted to do something that was truly something that we had to work together on, so we thought this was a great option for team building/bonding.

Some notes about this place: It is a little difficult to find on your first try. Generally, if you end up close to the enormous AT&T Stadium (where the Dallas Cowboys play football), you’re on the right track, but the little nook-and-cranny streets around there can be a bit confusing. Once you do find it, you may be questioning if you’re in the right place, because it looks like an old office space or warehouse. But, if you look for the sign, you will find that you are, indeed, in the right place. Once you find some parking, the door to get in does kind of look like some back door exit, but it’s definitely the right one. Once you get in, the pictures from the website start to look familiar, and you are greeted by one of the friendly guys that run the gym.

We were greeted by a really cool guy named Michael, who helped us not only with paying for our visit, but he also gave us a crash course in climbing 101. He was extremely knowledgeable about climbing and took plenty of time, and patience, to answer all of my very beginner questions. He also made himself available to us for any further questions or if we needed help with any of the courses in the gym. So, big points to this place for customer service. There is also something to be said about the particular community of climbers that were in there as well. At one point, I needed to take a rest while my husband wanted to try and climb a particular wall that was not the “self-assisted” ropes, and another young man who was just visiting on a day pass like us, just stepped in and belayed (fancy climbing word for the person who holds the ropes at the bottom) for him. I thought that was pretty cool.

Now, let’s talk prices, because you might have guessed that this isn’t a free activity. This place was also quite affordable. If you have your own gear, you spend $12 to be able to climb all day long. But, if you are complete newbies like us and you need to rent shoes, a chalk bag and your harness, it comes to about $21 per person so, about $42 if you’re on a date. Seriously not bad considering this is available to you all day long…and they mean all day. You can literally leave, go have lunch or dinner, and then come back and climb for the rest of the day, if you wanted. Now, if you come in and try it and decide that you really like indoor rock climbing, they also offer memberships and punch cards so you don’t have to pay for the day pass every time you come in. That information and pricing can actually be found on their website at: http://www.dynorock.com .

To recap: This is a fantastic date if you want to do something that is active and fun. Rock Climbing also requires a lot of team work, both physically and mentally. We spent a lot of time mapping out how we were going to make it up the walls, and while we were climbing, the belayer was always calling out different rocks to grab or step on and the climber trusted the advice and ultimately made progress up the wall. Rock Climbing is a very affective trust activity, and I would recommend this to couples of any kind, but especially engaged couples who are about to be married. We absolutely loved the physicality this took as well…we were both sweating and had some very sore arms afterward, but because we climbed and reached the top on several of our attempts, it made it worth the work. I would definitely recommend this gym in particular, for the price and for the community and employees who are there to help.

As usual, at the end of these posts, I have some pictures from our day. So, please forgive odd angles and exasperated, sweaty husband and wife.

As always, Thanks for stopping by!

With Love, From ETX,

Casey.

]]>https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/not-your-average-dates-dyno-rock-climbing-gym/feed/0larkspurstargazerReview:The Dallas World Aquariumhttps://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/05/29/reviewthe-dallas-world-aquarium/
https://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/2016/05/29/reviewthe-dallas-world-aquarium/#respondSun, 29 May 2016 16:39:48 +0000http://withlovefrometx.wordpress.com/?p=202So, back in April, my husband and I visited the Dallas World Aquarium, followed by an amazing Dallas Stars game. Despite the rain that we’ve been having all over Texas, I can honestly say that this, more or less, indoor zoo and aquarium is certainly a treat!

Now, this is a very popular attraction in Dallas, so, getting in to actually get your tickets and start the tour is a bit of a wait. If you are not someone who does well in the elements, you may not like this part. I would say to definitely dress accordingly for outdoor weather AND a lot of walking. That being said, once you finally do get in the door, the place is spectacular! You start at the top of a 3-story building in what they have called “The Canopy”, where there are large amount of beautiful bird species and some monkeys here and there in these higher up areas. After that you go down to level 2 and see an array of land animals, including a gorgeous black panther, flamingos, and penguins! Finally, after you have finished with the 2nd floor, you get to the Water level, where you can see fish, rays, alligators and the aquarium’s famous shark tunnel!

I will take the time to say that this place is huge. It is filled with so many different animal and plant species that it can be a bit overwhelming. The animals in there do seem to be well kept, look healthy and like they are happy. Like I said earlier in the post, this place is very popular…so if you’re not big on crowds or having to share your space with A LOT of people, I would recommend going during the week when there is less foot traffic inside. They do also offer food and drink stations on every floor (they even have concessions for those who are waiting outside to come into the aquarium), as well as relatively clean restroom facilities. There is so much to look at in this place, and they have feeding exhibits periodically throughout the day, which makes it more fun. For example, we happened to be there as they were feeding the penguins. Now, my favorite part was the Shark tunnel…and it is equal parts fascinating and eerie. The sharks swim over and around the tunnel as they please, so you don’t always know when they are swimming up right behind you. This is also kind of a tight space because it is their main attraction, so anyone with claustrophobia may be uncomfortable, but I still recommend seeing it. All and all, I would certainly recommend this for a date or to take your kids. Even though there is not always a keeper around, they do have monitors and placards with some great information about the animals you are looking at. For more information, like events and ticket prices, I encourage you to check out their website at: http://www.dwazoo.com .

Here are some photos of our visit! Credit goes to my husband for taking pictures.

As always, thanks for stopping by! I will have a couple more dates that we have gone on posted within the next couple of days, but this one has been pending forever!

So, I’m sure any of you who actually follow me have noticed that I have been on a bit of a hiatus. Well, I’m glad to say that, though the summer is an extremely busy time in my job, I will be trying to squeeze in more Event Experiences posts, Venue Visits and Feel-Good Fridays. I have a couple of pieces that have been sitting in my ‘drafts’ folder for quite a while, so I plan on finishing those up within the next day or so and getting them up here, with pictures, for everyone to see. I have managed to visit a couple of really cool places in Dallas, travelled to Denver, CO for work and also got to check out a few places in my hometown as well in Tyler, TX. So, I know I may have lost a few of you, but please stick around. These places I’m about to review/give my experience on are definitely on the way and I hope that it helps with any weekend trips, date ideas or vacation plans for anyone who wants to come to Texas. Stay tuned! I’ll be getting my first post about the Dallas Aquarium up before the end of the day. Thanks for stopping by!